1912-1913-] Heather and other A Hied Plants. 1 7 



pleasing sight, as they had an elegance and beauty all their 

 own, and well-grown plants indicated high culture skill on 

 the part of the gardener. An authority writing in the early 

 part of last century says : " Under the judicious management 

 of William M'Nab, of the Botanic Garden, there is on view 

 one of the finest collections of Cape heaths to be found in 

 Britain." In the Cape they are (like our own natives) 

 found on the tops and sides of mountains, and in the crevices 

 of the rocks, in great abundance. These were the hard-wooded 

 species, and it took many years to get up specimens in this 

 country, and choice decorative plants though they were, yet 

 they began to lose favour with the public, and are now 

 almost out of cultivation, a number of soft-wooded kinds 

 having taken their place. 



Although the three kingdoms may be said to be clad 

 with heather from end to end, yet it is somewhat remark- 

 able that there are only five species, — with the common 

 ling, six. The species and their varieties may be briefly 

 stated : — 



Erica ciliaris, with one hybrid, found in Cornwall and 

 Gal way. 



Erica cinerea, with 12 varieties, found in Scottish High- 

 lands. 



Erica mediterranca, with 7 varieties, Mayo and Gal way. 



Erica Tetralix, or cross - leaved, 4 varieties, Scottish 

 Highlands. 



Erica vagans, with 4 varieties, Cornwall. 



Calluna vulgaris, about 30 varieties, everywhere from north 

 to south. 



We have also Menziesia polifolia, with 2 varieties, Mayo ; 

 and Menziesia ccerulea, Sow of Athol, Perthshire, rare. 



Commonly grown are Erica carnea, Erica carnea Tiyorida, 

 Germany, and Erica herbacea alba, Germany. 



Asa Gray, an American writer on horticulture, states : " Up 

 till the year 1860 it was generally supposed there was no 

 heather in the United States. It had been found before this 

 in Newfoundland, but from the States it was thought to 

 be entirely absent. Although discoveries had been made in 

 Nova Scotia and Cape Breton, still there was a suspicion. 

 However, all doubt was soon afterwards set at rest by the 



VOL. VII. B 



